Caernarfon woman hit ex-partner over the head with a saucepan while he slept

North Wales Live

28-04-2025

A woman hit her former partner on the head with a saucepan as he slept. Kelly Cavanagh whacked Dennis Williams while he was sitting on a sofa during an incident of domestic abuse.
Cavanagh, 35, of Llys Talar, Pendalar, Caernarfon, admitted a wounding charge. A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court heard she has mental health problems and gave her a 16-month jail term suspended for 18 months.
The court heard Cavanagh and Mr Williams had been in a relationship for six years and had four children. Both adults would drink and become violent, the court heard. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
In February 2024 Mr Williams went to Cavanagh's home to take the children to school. But he sat on a sofa and fell asleep. It was then that Cavanagh hit him on the head with a saucepan. He got up and noticed a saucepan on the floor.
He went into the kitchen to confront Cavanagh. He found her holding a knife and took it off her. He tried to leave but she dragged him back and bit his leg before he fled.
Outside, he found his van's windscreen had been damaged and there was a hole in a headlight both caused by Cavanagh. The court heard Cavanagh had also gone through Mr Williams' mobile phone and found messages from Mr Williams' mother and sister despite Cavanagh forbidding him from having such contact with them.
Soon afterwards Mr Williams' sister received a text message from Cavanagh. Cavanagh said she would come to her home, adding: "I'll smash your house."
Police were called and officers found Cavanagh had also hit a previous partner with a saucepan in 2022. Jemma Gordon, defending, said the defendant has an emotionally unstable personality and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).
She does not have contact with her children and is "missing them greatly". The judge Her Honour Nicola Jones said Cavanagh had hit Mr Williams but he had not required hospital treatment. She noted there is no allegation regarding the knife.
The victim's sister had been terrified that Cavanagh's threat would be carried out. The judge said she caused really serious harm but has mental health difficulties.
Giving her the suspended sentence the judge said it would cause emotional harm to her children if Cavanagh was sent straight to jail. She has shown she is capable of rehabilitation so must do 25 days of rehabilitation activity.
There were no separate penalties for causing criminal damage and making a threat to cause criminal damage, from the same incident, as the sentence was frontloaded on the wounding offence.